Using the SEIPS model to understand the challenges of maternity health in rural areas: a focus group study in rural counties of New York

Abstract

Understanding the needs of rural women in maternity health is significantly important to develop effective policies and initiatives and to sustain care of rural communities. This study aims to understand these needs from a healthcare providers’ perspective. We conducted a semi-structured qualitative focus group involving 13 people working in different positions in a rural healthcare system in New York. Our thematic analysis was guided by the SEIPS model. Our study identified several interconnected barriers to maternity care engagement in this rural county, mainly related to the system and people components of the SEIPS. To overcome these challenges, providers and management members highlighted that it would be important to provide multilevel interventions that would help expand the transportation and childcare infrastructure and improve outreach and translation material in order to address misinformation and design tailored inclusive culturally targeted education and support systems.

Keywords: Human Factors, Systems Engineering, Maternity Health, Cancer care, Health management, Rural health

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006977